1. Basic Stitch Bikini
2. Striped Pillow
3. Chartreuse Axis Tank & Maxine Undies
5. Long Granny Coat
6. Short Granny Coat
8. Baby Set
17. Crochet Strawberry Bucket Hat
20. Negroni Collared Shirt
21. Stockings for me and Chase
Friday, December 31, 2021
2021: Everything I Made This Year (Almost)
Happy New Year! Ok, so I have not been great about blogging individual projects, but that doesn't mean I can't do an end-of-the-year round up, right? Here's everything I made in 2021 (almost):
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Project! Charm Patterns Bryant Gown Goes To Hawaii
Pattern: The amazing Bryant Gown from Charm Patterns aka Gertie. I loved this one as soon as I saw it - the mermaid shape, the off-the shoulder neckline, swoon!
Materials: A gorgeous floral cotton/poly from Hawaii Fabric Mart. Delightful to sew, so forgiving. I looked all over for a large print, affordable floral fabric for this dress, and I should have just looked at Hawaii Fabric Mart first. Noted for the future.
Cost: $36 for 8 yards of fabric, plus about $3 for a zipper and thread. Good thing I was able to find a decent priced fabric for this dress, considering the yardage, because the pattern was also $22 for the PDF version, plus another $4 or so to print it. That brings the total for this project to around $65.
Timeline: I bought the pattern on September 9th, planning to wear this dress to a wedding on October 2nd. I hemmed it the morning of the wedding, so it all worked out juuuust in the nick of time.
Sizing, mods, changes and notes on fitting: I made a size 12 with an H bust for this dress. The beauty of these patterns is that they are drafted for a variety of cup sizes. Since I have to do a Full Bust Adjustment for every top or dress I sew, this is a HUGE win for me. Obviously there are still small fitting tweaks to make, but this, alone, saves me so much time and effort that I would consider the cost totally worth it. For this project, I did not start cutting and sewing until a week before the wedding, and I took the chance and did not make a muslin. AND LOOK AT THAT FIT! Again, 100% worth it for me and my body type.
I went with the VERY dramatic lantern sleeves, and almost second guessed myself and cut the smaller cap sleeves. I'm glad I stayed the course! However, my arms are very thin and these sleeves ended up a little big, so I intend to go back and take them in.
One big note about this dress is the length. I am 5'8" and I took a lot off at both the end of the bodice (aka around the knees) and then again off the bottom. Although the drafting was generally great, I did have to even up the bottom of the bodice after easing in the princess seam, plus an additional inch or so. And then another 3" at the bottom of the dress for hemming, for a total of 5" off. Honestly, I would rather have it this way, since I am on the tall side, but if you're a shorty, consider taking off length during cutting. Oh, and I am wearing the dress with flats, not heels. Secret comfort!
Feelings about this project: I absolutely love it, and I want to make a second one. I'm thinking the short version in stretch velvet with cap sleeves!
Feelings about myself: When I decided I was going to attend this wedding, I knew I wanted to make a fresh dress. Since I have gained weight over the last year and a half, I didn't really have any formal dresses that felt very ME. This dress makes me feel amazing. I love it, it fits beautifully and makes me feel gorgeous and sexy! What more could I ask from a GOWN?!
Feelings about the world: This was an outdoor wedding of vaccinated people, and it felt so good to be out in the world again, celebrating the love of my friends!
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Project! Seamwork Benning Dress in Vintage Sheets
Materials: Vintage sheets! I have been collecting these sheets for the last 15 or so years, and this dress is made up of all the little bits of leftover sheet that weren't big enough for their own garments. They were all found at thrift stores or yard sales.
Cost: "Free" aka I did not purchase any new materials for this project in recent memory, everything was from Deep Stash and it's monetary value has been lostttt to tiiiime.
Timeline: Part of the bodice of this dress was actually the muslin for my Pumpkin Spice Benning, so I cut out the muslin in early November, and then finally cut out all the pieces during the last week of November and sewed it over Thanksgiving weekend. I used the back of the bodice muslin for this dress, cut the pockets out of the front bodice muslin piece, and cut a new front bodice based on my fitting.
Sizing, mods, changes and notes on fitting: The bodice is the same as my Pumpkin Spice Benning Dress, with a weird 1" FBA that I ended up taking out of the front. I drafted a large collar for this dress, but honestly, it could be larger. I also shortened the first tier of the skirt by about 4", and added very long waist ties (they're probably like 50" long, extremely extra).
Feelings about this project: I'm so into this pattern! Especially in the light, crisp cotton blends of the sheeting material, it's so easy to wear. I had originally planned to just use one different sheet per tier for the skirt, but I have so many fun sheets, I did a patchwork skirt instead with 8 different patterns on each tier. The design of this dress is heavily influenced by Physic Outlaw dresses - the patchwork, the tiers of fluffy skirts, the large collar! I am a huge fan of their dresses and the way they reuse vintage materials.
Feelings about myself: I have worn this in public once and a hip youth complimented me, so I feel GREAT in this dress! I am slowly evolving my style, between aging and pandemic and not going to an office anymore, and this is a big step in the right direction. It just FEELS fun to wear.
Feelings about the world: It's almost Christmas so I'm trying to stay positive.
What I’ve been listening to or watching: I listened to the audiobook of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig while sewing this and cried a good amount, in a feel-good way. I think the big takeaway from this project is GOOD FEELS, FEELS GOOD!
Monday, November 15, 2021
Project! Seamwork Benning Dress in Pumpkin Spice Plaid
Materials: A Pumpkin Spice plaid from Ye Olde Joann’s, a brushed cotton yarn-dyed fabric. This fabric CALLED to me from the shelf. I was innocently shopping for Halloween Costume Supplies™ and it flew into my cart and demanded to be made into a maxi dress. After moving a few months ago, I am very aware that I do not need any more fabric, yarn or craft supplies, but this one GOT ME.
Cost: $46 for 5 yards of fabric and $3 for thread.
Timeline: I've been eyeing this pattern since it was released in March of 2021. I bought the fabric early September 2021, and finally finished sewing it last week, early November 2021.
Sizing, mods, changes and notes on fitting: I cut a size 12 in this pattern, but my measurements would have put me at a size 16. There's a lottttt of ease built in, so if you want something more fitted, size down. My dress is still relaxed and very easy to wear.
I did a 1" FBA, but after making a muslin, I ended up pinching out that same inch at the center front. This brought the neckline in on my shoulders and the darts closer to my apex, and meant that I had to redraw the center V, since I loved how deep it was drafted. Overall, I am thrilled with the fit of the bodice after making these round-about changes. I also added ties at the side seams for a versatile belt that could give me more waist definition when I'm in the mood for it (which is almost always).
The fabric also told me it wanted to be EXTRA and needed a LOT of skirt. So instead of the two tiers, I cut four, each 12" high and increasing the width by 1.5x for each tier. The last tier is only 6" high, and woah, is it kicky! Maybe a little bit country?
Feelings about this project: Gathering is so much work and I should have gotten a gathering foot before I attempted this project, but I'm all about using what I've got and not buying new equipment for every single project.
Feelings about myself: I loved this pattern from the moment I saw it – it is just so WEAR-able. I know that I’m not the only one to crave easier clothes over the last 18 months, but I also love getting dressed in more than pj’s or sweatpants. It helps my mood, and the more I make the effort, the better I find myself adjusting to working from home. I feel more like a ME, you know? So having this dress that fits well and makes me feel so extra is awesome and inspiring. I already have a second one cut out.
Feelings about the world: Katie, why are you resurrecting this blog (again)?? I'm feeling burnt out on the non-stop advertising of certain social media platforms, and I really miss having a cohesive record or diary or journal of my creative projects. So here I am again, writing a much-too-long post about the ins and outs of this project, if only so I can read it back to myself later when I wonder how or why I made this or that. Hopefully there's a little information here for anyone else that might want to know, too. And I'm using a template to make it easy on myself, so you'll see these same questions answered for each project.
What I’ve been listening to or watching: I listened to the audio book version of "Broken Horses" by Brandi Carlile while sewing this dress. Kind of a perfect match for a dress that's a little bit country! I love Brandi as a musician and this book struck me deep. I cried about every 20 minutes, and if you listen to the audio book, she plays the songs from each chapter as it goes along. Truly masterful storytelling, and I haven't stopped listening to her albums since I finished the book.
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